QUEENS, N.Y. (PIX11) \u2013 The Neponsit neighborhood of Rockaway illuminates the spirit of Christmas.\u00a0 It\u2019s an annual event celebrating the holiday and encouraging charitable donations.<\/p>\n
Joe Mure, who organizes the annual holiday celebration, proudly proclaims, \u201cWe raised close to $3 million since we started. We\u2019re up to $200,000 this year. We leave a donation box outside the house, and everything we collect goes directly to foundation.\u201d<\/p>\n
More Local News <\/a><\/p>\n Mure created this Christmas wonderland 30 years ago. He explains why.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have two reasons. One, to put a smile on every child\u2019s face, and two, to help the children who need it.\u201d Mure adds,\u00a0 \u201cIt makes me feel great when I come here and watch a kid look at the house and smile. I think it\u2019s the most important thing we could do.\u201d<\/p>\n When the sun dips, Joe turns his neighborhood into a magical wonder with colorful lights aglow all along the row of homes.<\/p>\n Mure notes, \u201cIt\u2019s not easy to be the Santa Claus of the neighborhood, but it\u2019s important. We need to do some good.\u201d<\/p>\n Santa shows up, and Joe wastes no time inviting some kids for a little get-together in his basement.<\/p>\n A little girl jumps to see Santa, and lands on his lap: \u201cMerry Christmas,\u201d he exclaims, and hands her a gift.<\/p>\n Make PIX11 your preferred news source on Google: Here\u2019s how <\/a><\/p>\n The joy in the basement is transformed into heartache upstairs, where a 6-year-old girl, a paraplegic, is in desperate need of help.<\/p>\n Dalaina Modica, Ali Rose\u2019s mother, is teary-eyed as she explains, \u201cThis season has been the hardest season of our lives. Oh my god.<\/p>\n Dalaina Modica\u2019s daughter, Ali Rose, developed flu-like symptoms two years ago. Days later, her condition worsened. She was rushed to the children\u2019s hospital in Philadelphia.<\/p>\n Daliana says,\u00a0 \u201cIt\u2019s every parent\u2019s nightmare. They told us in ER that we should prepare for the worst, that she might not make it.\u201d<\/p>\n At one point, the toddler was declared medically dead.<\/p>\n Her father, Joe Modica, explains,\u00a0 \u201cShe flatlined for 18 minutes. They got the pulse back quickly, and five days later her heart came back.\u201d<\/p>\n